Michael Kidd-Gilchrist vs. Joe Johnson: With the injuries the Nets have experienced, they need Johnson to come forward as a first scoring option. He’s been strong in crunch time. Kidd-Gilchrist, by his own description, is the Bobcats’ “middle linebacker.”

Observations

• The Nets’ reaction to losing center

Brook Lopez

(and

Kevin Garnett

of late) has been to go small with

Paul Pierce

as a “power forward.” Predictbly that makes them a poor rebounding team, but the Nets are sixth in the league in turnovers forced..

• The injuries to the centers have opened playing time for rookie

Mason Plumlee

, who played for Duke. Plumlee figures to make the All-Rookie team off his strong second half of the season.

Tap-ins

• A victory by the Nets would give them a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over the Bobcats and a tiebreaker in the unlikely event these teams finish with the same record in the East.

• The Nets have gone 27-11 since the first of the year, which saved their season after a brutal start.

Did you know?

You don’t want the ball in Johnson’s hands in the last minute of a tight game. He’s made 13 of 16 shots from the field as a Net in situations where Brooklyn is either tied or trails by three or fewer points..